2014 Grambling Legend Hall of Famers

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1 2014 Grambling Legend Hall of Famers 2014 Hall of Fame Legends Category 2009 Hall of Fame Legends Category Tommie Doris Mott AgeeRobinson Willie Leon Brown Simmons Buck Jophrey Buchanan Brown Willie John Davis Wyatt Henry Johnny Dyer Comeaux Ralph Fred Garr Hilton Charles Winston Hardnett Short Fred Leroy Hobdy Carter Robert Stephen Hopkins Dennis Autry Billy Lane Newsome Howell Stone Matthew Johnson Reed Charles Joiner Baseball Baseball Baseball Baseball Track Track Ralph W.E. Jones Willie Joseph Ernie Ladd Legolian "Boots" Moore Edward "Bo" Murray Collie J. Nicholson Willis Reed Helen Richards-Smith Eddie Robinson Richard Stebbins Track Hershell West Willie Young Paul "Tank Younger

The Sarepta native played nine (9) seasons in the Canadian League with the Toronto Argonauts (2) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7).

2 Stephen Dennis (football) A four year starter at cornerback for the Tigers during 1969 to 1972, earning All-SWAC and All-American honors (AP & UPI). He earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award and toured Western Europe on behalf of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The Sarepta native played nine (9) seasons in the Canadian League with the Toronto Argonauts (2) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7). Steve received honors as a CFL All Star as well as being selected on the Saskatchewan Roughriders Seventy-Fifth (75th) Anniversary Team. After his pro football career ended, he started coaching at Carroll High School in Monroe. In 1985 his alma mater came calling and he accepted an assistant coaching position and stayed until While at Grambling, the football team would win four SWAC championships and two Black National Championships, making him the 1st Grambling player to both play and coach on a Black National Championship team coached by Eddie Robinson. Dennis is currently the Athletic Director, assistant coach and teacher at Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy in Shreveport, LA. Leroy Carter (football) A Zachary native, Carter earned high school state championships in basketball and track. He led the Grambling Tigers in rushing in 1964 with 714 yards and was tabbed All- SWAC in 1964, 1965, and In 1965 he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns. The long time educator served as a head football coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal prior to retiring from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

John Wyatt (baseball) An All-SWAC standout outfielder during 1962-1964, Wyatt was known as the fastest runner going from home plate to first base.

John was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played on the Bluefield Oriole farm team in 1964.

3 John Wyatt (baseball) An All-SWAC standout outfielder during , Wyatt was known as the fastest runner going from home plate to first base. During the 1964 NAIA Baseball tournament, he was selected to the All Tournament team. Affectionately known as Moose, he was never caught stealing a base, or while stretching a single into a double. John was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played on the Bluefield Oriole farm team in He went on to coach at the high school and college level from 1965 to 1976, and in 1996 he retired as a college administrator with NYCTC. Winston Short (track) Short, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, came to the United States in He received a scholarship to run track at Grambling under Coach Tom Williams during , and earned NAIA All-American and All-SWAC honors in the 60, 100 and 220 yard dashes. Winston was selected as the track team s captain from 1967 to In 1968, he represented Trinidad in the Olympic Games of Mexico City. He retired after serving as a teacher in the Chicago Public School System from 1970 to 2010.

Matthew Reed (football) An exceptional quarterback at Richwood High School, where he threw a record 12 touchdowns in one game, Reed would go on to be selected as the Best Freshman player on the

In 1973 Matt was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, but he chose to play in the Canadian and World Leagues, playing for the Toronto Argonauts, the Calgary Stampeders, the Birmingham Vulcans and the

4 Matthew Reed (football) An exceptional quarterback at Richwood High School, where he threw a record 12 touchdowns in one game, Reed would go on to be selected as the Best Freshman player on the football team. In 1971 he would be selected as the MVP, and in 1972 he would be named an All-American and MVP of the Pelican Bowl game. In 1973 Matt was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, but he chose to play in the Canadian and World Leagues, playing for the Toronto Argonauts, the Calgary Stampeders, the Birmingham Vulcans and the Birmingham Americans. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 1990 to He is most proud of his picture as a member of the World League that hangs in the Pro Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and, being featured on a commemorative poster celebrating Coach Eddie Robinson s 400th win. Reed is a teacher/coach at Wossman High School in Monroe, LA. Fred Hilton (basketball) The high school All-American from McKinley High in Baton Rouge was a prolific scorer and had the quickest hands of any guard of his day. Fred chose to attend Grambling College over a large number of other colleges seeking to have him play for their teams. Hilton played guard at Grambling from , ending his college career as one of the best scorers in the nation. The NAIA All-American was drafted by the Buffalo Braves and played for them for two seasons (71-72 & 72-73), averaging 9.4 points per game. After basketball Fred started a career in the insurance industry with Monumental Life and New York Life that lasted over 20 years.

Leon Simmons (football) The Dallas, TX native played linebacker for the Tigers in the late 50 s and early 60 s. He is a graduate of Lincoln High School in Dallas.

Billy Newsome (football) The Jacksonville, TX native is a former Tiger defensive lineman (1966-70) who went on to play in the National League for the Baltimore Colts (70-72), New Orleans Saints

5 Leon Simmons (football) The Dallas, TX native played linebacker for the Tigers in the late 50 s and early 60 s. He is a graduate of Lincoln High School in Dallas. After his arrival in Grambling, his tough style of play earned him the respect of his fellow players, coaches and NFL scouts. Leon signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in Billy Newsome (football) The Jacksonville, TX native is a former Tiger defensive lineman ( ) who went on to play in the National League for the Baltimore Colts (70-72), New Orleans Saints (73-74), New York Jets (75-76), and the Chicago Bears (77). Billy was a 5th round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1970 (one of Grambling s largest draft classes) and helped lead the Colts to the 1971 Super Bowl Championship. At Grambling, Billy was an All-SWAC defensive lineman.

Jophery Brown (baseball) the Grambling native had a sterling career as a pitcher at Grambling (1964-66) under the guidance of R.W.E. Jones, the head coach and president of Grambling.

These stats drew a lot of interest from Major League Baseball teams, and in 1966 the Chicago Cubs drafted Brown in the second round of the secondary phase of the June 1966 draft.

6 Jophery Brown (baseball) the Grambling native had a sterling career as a pitcher at Grambling ( ) under the guidance of R.W.E. Jones, the head coach and president of Grambling. His known record was 12-2 with a 0.88 ERA, including a no-hitter and five one hitters. These stats drew a lot of interest from Major League Baseball teams, and in 1966 the Chicago Cubs drafted Brown in the second round of the secondary phase of the June 1966 draft. His professional career in baseball would be cut short by an injury to the rotator cuff in his pitching arm. Calvin, an older brother, had become a well known stuntman in Hollywood, and he introduced the field to Jophery in Jophery went on to become a top stuntman, in his own right, until his last work on the 2013 film Oblivion. Some of the shows/films that he appeared in are; I Spy, The A-Team, Coffy, Papillon, Live and Let Die, The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars, Convoy, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Speed, Jurassic Park. Jophery doubled for various prominent African-American actors, such as Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Danny Glover, Gregory Hines, Yaphett Koto, and Denzel Washington. In May 2010, he received the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award for his body of work as a stuntman. (Rory Costello, sabr.org/bio) Johnny Comeaux (basketball) The Mossville High School scoring machine was one of the most sought after cagers in the country. During his high school career, he scored more than 3,000 points. Following a very successful college career under the guidance of Coach Fred Hobdy, Johnny was signed by the New Orleans Buccaneers during the season and in 23 games scored an average of 3.3 points per game.

7 Doris Robinson (contributor) - Doris Robinson was born Doris Inez Mott on May 2, 1919 in Wilson, Louisiana, where she spent her early childhood years. As a young flower from a tree of educators, she would later become an educator herself, as well as a guidance counselor, and mentor. Of course, her most important job was that of First Lady of College, as wife of Eddie Robinson, Sr., the winningest coach in Division I college football history. Mrs. Robinson, an only child, was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her mother, Lillian Mott Coleman, was an educator, and her father, John Mott, was a businessman. She was raised with her first cousins Jannie Cox and Gloria Handy; and they maintained a close sisterly bond throughout their lives. The Robinsons met in elementary school and their love continued to blossom at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Robinson attended Southern University from and then Leland College, graduating with her sweetheart on May 15, The newlyweds moved to Grambling that year when a young, eager Eddie Robinson was offered the head football position by President Ralph W. E. Jones at then Louisiana Normal Negro Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Grambling State University. Mrs. Robinson was in Grambling for a workshop and the sports world can credit her aunt, Mrs. Grace Jackson, with communicating to Eddie Robinson the job opportunity. They would spend the next 56 years together in Grambling, having raised their two children, Lillian Rose and Eddie, Jr. there. Their family tree was expanded with the lives of five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-greatgranddaughter. Mrs. Robinson counts the scores of athletes that they touched through their contributions to Grambling as extended family. Mrs. Robinson made her mark at Friendship and Lincoln Elementary Schools and then at Lincoln High School in Ruston, Louisiana. After Lincoln was closed due to integration, Mrs. Robinson continued her career at Ruston High School as a guidance counselor. Even today, Mrs. Robinson s students marvel in her presence and reminisce about the positive influence she impressed upon them. Her work in the university and surrounding community through her membership in the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Links, Inc., National Education Association, and other groups, secured her place as one of the most well-respected women in the community, always demonstrating class and grace in any setting. Until Eddie Robinson s death in 2007, Mrs. Robinson had been her husband s confidante, speaking coach, fashion advisor, and best friend. And even now, she is his most loyal fan. Eddie Robinson once noted, We started dating around the end of elementary school, so she s always been here for me. She s an important part of my foundation. Coach Robinson was also often heard saying (and some may say bragging) that in his life he only had one job and one wife for his entire career. It was Doris Robinson that gave him the sparkle in his eye. Anyone who knows Doris Robinson and her dedication to Eddie Robinson, their family and his career will attest that there are no truer words. She still reigns today as THE FIRST LADY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

2014 Stephen Dennis (football Leroy Carter (football)

2014 Stephen Dennis (football) A four year starter at cornerback for the Tigers during 1969 to 1972, earning All-SWAC and All-American honors (AP & UPI). He earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award